Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff: A Libertarian Manifesto

>i>Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff is a rational yet passionate argument that defends the principles upon which America was founded - principles shared by citizens across the political spectrum. The Constitution grants each American the right to self-determination, to be protected from others whose actions are destructive to their lives and property.

The Libertarian Mind: A Manifesto for Freedom

Libertarianism: A Primer, by David Boaz, the longtime executive vice president of the Cato Institute, continues to be the best available guide to the history, ideas, and growth of this increasingly important political movement - and now it has been updated throughout and with a new title: The Libertarian Mind. Boaz has updated the book with new information on the threat of government surveillance; the policies that led up to and stemmed from the 2008 financial crisis; corruption in Washington; and the unsustainable welfare state.

Real Dissent: A Libertarian Sets Fire to the Index Card of Allowable Opinion

Nothing makes traditional left and right kiss and make up faster than when they're faced with an articulate libertarian. Avert your eyes from this dangerous extremist, citizen! Government is composed of wise public servants who innocently pursue the common good! In Real Dissent, Tom Woods demolishes some of the toughest critics of libertarianism in his trademark way.

The Road to Serfdom

Originally published in 1944, The Road to Serfdom has profoundly influenced many of the world's great leaders, from Orwell and Churchill in the mid-'40s, to Reagan and Thatcher in the '80s. The book offers persuasive warnings against the dangers of central planning, along with what Orwell described as "an eloquent defense of laissez-faire capitalism".

By the People: Rebuilding Liberty Without Permission

American freedom is being gutted. Whether we are trying to run businesses, practice vocations, raise our families, cooperate with our neighbors, or follow our religious beliefs, we run afoul of the government - not because we are doing anything wrong but because the government has decided it knows better. When we object, that government can and does tell us, "Try to fight this, and we'll ruin you."

Free to Choose: A Personal Statement

Milton Friedman and his wife, Rose, teamed up to write this most convincing and readable guide, which illustrates the crucial link between Adam Smith's capitalism and the free society. They show how freedom has been eroded and prosperity undermined through the rapid growth of governmental agencies, laws, and regulations.

For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto

In For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto, Rothbard proposes a once-and-for-all escape from the two major political parties, the ideologies they embrace, and their central plans for using state power against people. Libertarianism is Rothbard's radical alternative that says state power is unworkable and immoral, and ought to be curbed and finally overthrown.

The Law

How is it that the law enforcer itself does not have to keep the law? How is it that the law permits the state to lawfully engage in actions which, if undertaken by individuals, would land them in jail? These are among the most intriguing issues in political and economic philosophy. More specifically, the problem of law that itself violates law is an insurmountable conundrum of all statist philosophies. The problem has never been discussed so profoundly and passionately as in this essay by Frederic Bastiat from 1850.

Equal Is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality

We've all heard that the American Dream is vanishing, and that the cause is rising income inequality. The rich are getting richer by rigging the system in their favor, leaving the rest of us to struggle just to keep our heads above water. To save the American Dream, we're told that we need to fight inequality through tax hikes, wealth redistribution schemes, and a far higher minimum wage.

Human Action: A Treatise on Economics

Human Action is the most important book on political economy you will ever own. It was (and remains) the most comprehensive, systematic, forthright, and powerful defense of the economics of liberty ever written. This is the Scholar's Edition: accept no substitute. You will treasure this volume. The Scholar's Edition is the original, unaltered treatise (originally published in 1949) that shaped a generation of Austrians and made possible the intellectual movement that is leading the global charge for free markets.

The Fatal Conceit: The Errors of Socialism

Hayek gives the main arguments for the free-market case and presents his manifesto on the "errors of socialism." Hayek argues that socialism has, from its origins, been mistaken on factual, and even on logical, grounds and that its repeated failures in the many different practical applications of socialist ideas that this century has witnessed were the direct outcome of these errors. He labels as the "fatal conceit" the idea that "man is able to shape the world around him according to his wishes."

Libertarianism: What Everyone Needs to Know

Historically, Americans have seen libertarians as far outside the mainstream, but with the rise of the Tea Party movement, libertarian principles have risen to the forefront of Republican politics. But libertarianism is more than the philosophy of individual freedom and unfettered markets that Republicans have embraced. Indeed, as Jason Brennan points out, libertarianism is a quite different - and far richer - system of thought than most of us suspect. In this timely new entry in Oxford's acclaimed series What Everyone Needs to Know, Brennan offers a nuanced portrait of libertarianism.

Two Treatises of Government

Often considered the foundation of political liberalism, John Locke's Two Treatises of Government was first published anonymously in 1689, in the wake of England's Glorious Revolution. In The First Treatise of Government, Locke refutes the idea of divine monarchy, while The Second Treatise of Government articulates Locke's philosophy of government, which he based upon his theories of natural rights and the social contract.

The Conservatarian Manifesto: Libertarians, Conservatives, and the Fight for the Right's Future

There is an underserved movement budding among young conservatives in which fiscal responsibility and controlled government spending remain crucial tenets, but issues like gay marriage and drug control are approached with a libertarian bent. The ideas of this growing wave need a public, nuanced voice. The implications for the Republican Party if this philosophy is more widely adopted may not only spur major change within the party but could also revitalize its chances of claiming more power in our government.

Economics in One Lesson

Called by H.L. Mencken, "one of the few economists in history who could really write," Henry Hazlitt achieved lasting fame for his brilliant but concise work. In it, he explains basic truths about economics and the economic fallacies responsible for unemployment, inflation, high taxes, and recession.

Man, Economy, and State with Power and Market - Scholar's Edition

Murray N. Rothbard's great treatise, Man, Economy, and State, and its complementary text, Power and Market, are here combined into a single audiobook edition as they were written to be. It provides a sweeping presentation of Austrian economic theory, a reconstruction of many aspects of that theory, a rigorous criticism of alternative schools, and an inspiring look at a science of liberty that concerns nearly everything and should concern everyone.

Capitalism and Freedom

Milton Friedman argues that the appropriate role of competitive capitalism occurs when the majority of our economic activity flows through private enterprise within a free-market environment. This is unequivocally the most effective device for achieving economic freedom, as well as the necessary condition in which political freedom can be attained. Friedman's arguments are positively bold, enlightening, and impacting. Among the specific topics he addresses are "The Control of Money", "Fiscal Policy", "Capitalism and Discrimination", and "Social Welfare Measures".

Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party

Dinesh D'Souza, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller America, is back with this darkly entertaining deconstruction of Hillary Clinton's flawed character and ideology. From her Alinskyite past to her hopes for America's progressive future, the presumptive Democratic nominee is revealed to be little more than a political gangster intent on controlling the nation's wealth.

The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels

For decades environmentalists have told us that using fossil fuels is a self-destructive addiction that will destroy our planet. Yet by every measure of human well-being, from life expectancy to clean water to climate safety, life has been getting better and better. How can this be? The explanation is that we usually hear only one side of the story. We're taught to think only of the negatives of fossil fuels, their risks and side effects, but not their positives.

The Virtue of Selfishness

Ayn Rand here sets forth the moral principles of Objectivism, the philosophy that holds human life - the life proper to a rational being - as the standard of moral values and regards altruism as incompatible with human nature, with the creative requirement of survival, and with a free society.

The Intimidation Game: How the Left Is Silencing Free Speech

For nearly 40 years, Washington and much of the American public have held up disclosure and campaign finance laws as ideals and the path to cleaner and freer elections. This book will show, through firsthand accounts, how both have been hijacked by the Left as weapons against free speech and free association, becoming the most powerful tools of those intent on silencing their political opposition.

No Excuses: Existentialism and the Meaning of Life

What is life? What is my place in it? What choices do these questions obligate me to make? More than a half-century after it burst upon the intellectual scene - with roots that extend to the mid-19th century - Existentialism's quest to answer these most fundamental questions of individual responsibility, morality, and personal freedom, life has continued to exert a profound attraction.

Anarchy, State, and Utopia: Second Edition

Translated into 100 languages, winner of the National Book Award, and named one of the 100 Most Influential Books since World War II by the Times Literary Supplement, Anarchy, State, and Utopia remains one of the most theoretically trenchant and philosophically rich defenses of economic liberalism to date as well as a foundational text in classical libertarian thought. With a new introduction by the philosopher Thomas Nagel, this revised edition will introduce Nozick and his work to a new generation of listeners.

Publisher's Summary

Tens of millions of Americans, from Generation X-ers to baby boomers and beyond, are rediscovering libertarianism, a visionary alternative to the tired party orthodoxies of left and right. In 1995, a Gallup poll found that 52 percent of Americans said, "the federal government has become so large and powerful that it poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens." Later that year, The Wall Street Journal concurred: "Because of their growing disdain for government, more and more Americans appear to be drifting - often unwittingly - toward a libertarian philosophy."

Libertarianism is hardly new, but its framework for liberty under law and economic progress makes it especially suited for the dynamic new era we are now entering. In the United States, the bureaucratic leviathan is newly threatened by a resurgence of the libertarian ideas upon which the country was founded. We are witnessing a breakdown of all the cherished beliefs of the welfare-warfare state. David Boaz presents the essential guidebook to the libertarian perspective, detailing its roots, central tenets, solutions to contemporary policy dilemmas, and future in American politics. He confronts head-on the tough questions frequently posed to libertarians: What about inequality? Who protects the environment? What ties people together if they are essentially self-interested?

Great book. The author clearly defines Libertarianism and writes about it in such a way as to allow political neophytes like myself to fully understand the subject and its practical applications in today's world. I highly recommend this book for the casual reader and the political junkie alike.

The book is a good libertarianism in a nutshell. It covers a lot of ground in history and principles. The only regret I have is the quality of the sound. Although it is clear enough to understand it, the sudden changes in volume and pitch make the listening a little annoying.

This book is an excellent introduction to the Libertarian philosophy. The first half is dedicated to a concise and informal history of governments and social contracts, and the second half is full of examples of how the Libertarian philosophy would address the problems of the world today. Obviously there will be no magic bullet that will fix all the world's problems, but any thinking man or woman will find this to be the most consistent and liberating course to take. If you enjoy this book, any book covering Rand's Objectivist philosophy should be next on your list.

I have said for some time that I am a libertarian, and it turns out that I was right. Libertarianism gave me a much more in depth philosophy on which to rest my assumed label and set of political beliefs. Great read even if you're not a libertarian, clear and concise with excellent, abundant, real world examples of what is and is not (or perhaps what it means to believe in and support) a libertarian way of governance.

As Republicans and Democrats battle it out for votes, money, and power, Mr. Boaz lays out a coherent and compelling framework for evaluating their policies, promises, and rhetoric. Freedom and prosperity are inherently compelling to most Americans, but Mr. Boaz explains why and how they work to make our lives better. He provides numerous practical examples to demonstrate the power of liberty to solve problems. Most economics is antisceptic, and most political philosophy is too rareified to be relevant. Mr. Boaz has blended them for the intelligent lay reader who is sincerely interested in the body politic but not patient for the academic jargon that usually is offered to address this topic seriously. It should be required reading for every voter.

First off, Jeff Riggenbach is a heck of a reader, the kind of deep-voiced authoritative narrator that is now pretty much a throw-back to a bygone era. A great reading voice is no small thing; I've listened to great books that were poorly read - like Milton Friedman's "Money Mischief" - and a bad reading voice can easily ruin the experience. (I never finished "Money Mischief".)

That said, this book does a very good job of explaining the libertarian viewpoint; however, it stops short of what true libertarians aim for. The author takes for granted that we need government for this and that and the other thing, without bothering to explain why. I'm always suspicious of books that make broad, sweeping claims about things that affect everyone's life while affecting the wink-and-nudge attitude that those claims somehow are self-evident - that it would be a waste of time to even think of defending them.

For someone who really wants to understand true, unadulterated libertarianism, Murray N. Rothbard's "For a New Liberty" is a far superior book. Rothbard's book is clear, consistent, comprehensive and (yet) concise (event though it clocks in at over 15 hours). Rothbard argues against ANY government - if this sounds loopy to you, listen to his arguments. The man is brilliant. And that book is narrated by Jeff Riggenbach too.

This is a fine book for anyone not familiar with libertarianism philosophy. The book covers a bit of history, explains the fundamentals, and gives numerous examples of a libertarian approach to many issues. It takes on a few of the weaknesses of libertarianism, but does not address a few key issues. The US was much more libertarian in the past, but monopolies and depressions led the US to accept some quite non libertarian policies. The author does not address these (at least perceived) weaknesses – which makes this book less perfect than it might have been.

I read this book to learn more about the actual principles of Libertarianism. I was a Democrat turned Republican later in life but now I know where I truly stand. This book captures the essence of my beliefs and is extremely well-written.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the fact that I now know my true political leanings. I am a Libertarian.

Which character – as performed by Jeff Riggenbach – was your favorite?

I can't pick a favorite but I will say the narrator was terrific. Tone and modulation and speed of reading were perfect.

Just a quick review to comment that this is as political audiobook solely based and written for the US market. It discusses a Libertarianism that is in turn largely irrelevant for the UK or international markets. I was looking for an academic discussion, this is not what you get with this audiobook.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

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